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Friday, 30 June 2017

Last week I placed a cheeky little order on The Body Shop, which is one of my all time favourite shops so I really wanted to do a haul and show you what I managed to pick up. They had a brilliant sale on and I had been looking for a few days for a few things to come in stock so once they did I got straight on it.

The main things I wanted to get was a few things from the Peach range. Anyone who reads my blog will probably know I have a huge love for anything peach scented and once I saw a few people post that the whole range was on sale I knew I had to pick up a few bits. I looked for days and there was no sign of the peach range until last Tuesday night so I quickly added a few things to my basket. I'm sure I'll do a full post on this stuff in a few weeks so I'll try and keep it short, but I got the Body Mist which should have been £8 but I got it half price at £4, the shower gel which should have been £5 but I got it for £3.50, and the body butter which should have been £15 but I got it for £7.50. I'm not sure if the peach range is one that's usually stocked, I don't see it all the time but to be honest I'd have bought these full price as I just love anything peach. They all smell amazing.

The next two things I ordered were the Rainforest Mini Shampoo and Conditioner. These were on sale for £1 each and I'd never tried any hair products before from The Body Shop so I didn't want to miss out on these. As they are only mini these are going to be brilliant for me to just try over a few washes. They are supposed to add volume to your hair aswell as cleansing and adding shine, I can't wait to see if they do make a difference. I'd love to know if you've tried these and what you thought.

The last two things I got were a Mini Grapefruit Shower Gel for £2 and a Fuji Green Tea Exfoliating Soap for £2.50. I've blogged about the Grapefruit range before which you can find here if you're interested, but I just love it and as I've now got through my huge stash of shower gels I really wanted to pick up another one of these even if it was just a mini one. The soap is a bit of a random one but I was really intrigued by it being an exfoliating one. I just thought I'd give it a try and I really like the Fuji Green Tea range so I knew it would smell nice anyway.

I just love The Body Shop and my bathroom is basically always full of their products. It's honestly took me months to get through everything but now I have, this sale came at the perfect time! Even though the majority of these were on sale anyway, I also found a discount code online too meaning everything only cost about £15 which I think is pretty good given just the body butter alone at full price would cost that!

Have you tried any of these products from The Body Shop? Whats your favourite thing they do?

Thursday, 29 June 2017

I am a huge fan of Pizza and I could genuinely live off it but unfortunately it's not the healthiest thing in the world so it's something I only try to have every so often now. As I'm such a huge lover of all kinds of Pizza, when the chance came up to work with Pizza Express and review their new Leggera range, there was no way I could say no!

The Leggera range is basically 3 light pizzas that all have a multigrain base topped with fresh and delicious ingredients. There is Prawn and Broccoli, Chicken and Vegetable, and Squash, Kale and Goats Cheese. They are a perfect size for one meaning if you get in late from work and don't want to cook, or if you're partners away and you don't want to make a big meal for just you, one of these can just be thrown in the oven. They are so handy to have in the fridge ready.

I've actually tried Pizza Express pizzas at home before and always really enjoyed them so I was really excited to see what this new range was like and how it compared. I picked up the Prawn and Broccoli Pizza and the Squash, Kale and Goats Cheese Pizza last week from my local Waitrose for £3.79 each. Unfortunately they didn't have the Chicken and Vegetable one at the time which is actually the one I was looking forward to the most so I'll have to keep an eye out for that one. I was still really excited to be trying the other two though and couldn't wait to see what they both tasted like.

It says on the packets both of these only take around 7 minutes to cook but I kept them in for about 10 just because I like my pizza crispy! I'm so impressed by how quickly they cook, there aren't many meals that you can make in that amount of time so that was the first thing that I was really happy with. Both looked absolutely delicious when they came out of the oven and even though I'm not the biggest fan of seafood I genuinely thought even the prawn and broccoli looked really appetising which was the one I was a bit sceptical about. When it comes to the taste, I couldn't fault the leggera range.The base was really yummy and crispy and to be honest I couldn't even tell it was wholemeal. I'm one of those people who really loves the base and the crust on a pizza so it was quite important to me that I couldn't tell these were much healthier for me than a normal pizza, but the base was really, really good. It had a nice crunch but wasn't over the top. They cooked perfectly. I loved how different the the toppings were to usual pizzas but out of the two, I think the Squash, Kale and Goats Cheese was the best. That's just down to me not being a massive fan of prawns but I genuinely think Prawn and Broccoli Pizza would be perfect for those who love seafood. With this range there is definitely something for everyone, and as they are on wholegrain bases, they are genuinely much healthier than so many other pizzas so brilliant if you maybe calorie count or just want to keep an eye on what you're eating. They were the perfect size and just the right amount for one person. There have been times where I've been in alone for the night and haven't been sure what to make just for one but these are brilliant for times like that.

I was so impressed with the leggera range and have high hopes for the Chicken and Vegetable one when I can get my hands on it. I'll definitely be looking out for this range in future aswell as all the other pizzas, Pizza Express do. I couldn't recommend them enough! If you think you'd like these pizzas and want to try them for yourself they are currently available from Waitrose.

I'd love to know if you've tried anything from this range and which one you think would be your favourite! Or just what sort of Pizza you normally like?

*I was given a voucher to purchase the pizzas and review. As always I only work with brands relevant to me and my blog

Wednesday, 28 June 2017

I am so enjoying doing these posts at the moment. I've been trying lots of new stuff recently and also going back to some of my favourite meals so there has been so much I've been wanting to put in these posts! When doing this one in particular I've realised how many photos I take with stuff at an angle, I really don't know why I do it. So sorry if this collage looks a bit odd, it's kind of annoying me!

The Best Roast Potatoes - I don't think there is much that is better than a sunday roast is there? I love roast chicken, potatoes, yorkshire puddings, just everything, and I made one a few weeks ago which was so delicious. I made the best roast potatoes I think I've ever made. Whenever I do a roast chicken, I like to cook the potatoes with it so they soak up all the juices and I find they always turn out the best this way. I boil them for about 20 minutes first while the chicken first goes in the oven, then I'll drain them and add them to the chicken to cook with that for an at least an hour or so. I think they turned out so well this time because when I drained them I properly roughed them up with the colander so all of the edges went so nice and crispy while they were cooking. They were just amazing, so fluffy inside but lovely and crisp on the outside. I also made some pretty good yorkshire puddings aswell, I just love a roast dinner.

White Chocolate and Honeycomb Cookies - I am actually a bit obsessed with these. I mentioned the triple chocolate ones from Tesco in this post but they also do a few others, including these white chocolate and honeycomb which are so good. You get 4 big cookies for about £1.50 I think and I can't explain how nice they are. I love these because you get the crunch from the honeycomb but also the cookie is quite nice and soft, and the chunks of chocolate are pretty decent. I just love them.

White Grape and Peach High Juice - This has been so lovely to have with ice and cold water over the last few weeks. I love any sort of juice really but this has been a favourite of mine for so long. I remember I first loved it when we occassionally had it at Georges years ago but as it's gone down to only £1 a bottle now at Asda I've been getting it every few weeks. I suppose it's just normal grape and peach juice but as I've said before I love anything even a little bit peach flavoured so this is perfect for me. It's just so refreshing.

Asda Strawberry, Elderflower and Juniper Presse - When me and George went to Asda recently we both picked one of these up as they were only 50p and I'm a sucker for pretty packaging like this. This was such a nice fruity, fizzy drink to have on a saturday night, a great non alcoholic replacement for wine I think! I love anything strawberry flavoured so I picked this one and George got the Cherry & Cinnamon which surprisingly was really nice, I was a bit sceptical about the cinnamon but it just tasted fruity. I definitely want to get more next time as they're such a good price, the branded ones they had were like £1.39 so you can't really go wrong with the Asda ones. I think these will be fab for summer.

Heinz Tomato Soup with Mexican Spices - As I said in Food I Have Been Loving This Week #14 post I'm trying calorie counting for a while rather than Slimming World so I've been having a load of soup for lunches during the week! It's always quite low calorie and it's just so easy. I picked this up recently and it is actually delicious. It tastes like the classic heinz tomato soup which you can't go wrong with it, but with added spices, and as I love spicy food I've been really enjoying this. I think I might actually prefer this. Soup is my go to lunch at the moment so I've been trying lots of new ones.

Cookie Pie - Something else we picked up on our trip to Asda, I feel like this post should be sponsored by them because I've mentioned them so much. We've had this before in the past and it's just amazing so I knew I wanted to pick one up when we went. Luckily they had some so that night we had a slice each with some custard and it was the best dessert. It's so nice warmed up and covered in custard, even better. It's about £3 so not the cheapest but so worth it.

Have you tried any of the food that I've mentioned? What have you been loving this week?

Tuesday, 27 June 2017

So if you've read my blog for a long time it'll be no secret to you that I suffer with anxiety, and it's pretty bad. For those of you who are new to my blog I suffer with generalised anxiety and have done for a few years now, and unfortunately I can't really say has improved over time. My anxiety presents itself in all sorts of situations, and as much as I love travelling, that can trigger my anxiety. I did a post about it a while ago if you're interested, I'll leave a link here. I never go far from home, the only places I've been the last few years are Manchester and London but regardless of that I always feel a sense of panic and anxiety when a trip away is getting close. I always try my best to not let it ruin things though, I tend to look forward to little holidays so much so I never want to let my anxiety stop me from enjoying them, I just find ways of coping with it. So I thought i'd share with you a few of the things I do to try and keep my anxiety at bay, and hopefully if you get the same as me before a trip, these might help you.

Booking In Advance - As much as I love the thought of a last minute getaway or one day being surprised with a weekend away, for now it just isn't going to happen, I need to be in control of as much of the booking as possible. I like to plan a few months advance for a weekend away or a holiday and book as early as possible. Not only do I find booking early gets you the best deals and cheaper train tickets etc. I also just like to have an idea of all our plans. I like to know where we'll be staying, the time we need to get the train etc, that way we can plan what we'll be doing when we're there and generally just getting these things sorted in advance really helps me.

Making Notes & Packing Early - Aswell as booking early, I also like to pack early. I'm not saying I start months in advance or anything but maybe 2 weeks or so before I'll start making a list of anything we need to take, what we still need to get etc. I just feel so much better about everything if I'm getting prepared early. I hate leaving packing til the last minute then realising something isn't clean that I want to take, or I needed to pick up a few bits from the shop and now it's too late. I just can't deal with it. I'll gradually pack over time and then the night before I'll do all the last minute checks. I find making notes at least a few weeks before really helps me. I also like to make notes on my phone of other things like our hotel check in time, train time, opening times of certain shops. All little things but again making notes is a massive help for me.

Travelling Early - I like to travel as early as possible on the first day. So we'll leave in plenty of time for the train station, just so we've got plenty of time to get any food or magazines, find our platform and when the train gets in, get to our seat before it gets packed. I can't imagine anything worse than having to run for our train or someone else getting in our seat, I worry every time about that so I like to leave nice and early. Also I like to get the train early in the morning just so we've got plenty of time in the afternoon to get things done. For example, when we go to London I like to get the train around 10 and then we're there in perfect time for checking in and then we have the rest of the afternoon and evening to explore. We're usually out of the hotel again by 2 on the first day so we have most of the day then.

Itinerary - Usually when we book to go somewhere we've already got in mind a few things we want to do there but I always like to make some sort of itinerary. I'm not saying you have to be super strict as that can take the fun out of it but there is no harm in having some sort of plan or a list of places you want to go, and on what days, just so you don't miss out on things. I also find this is good as once everything is written down you can see whats near each other and what things you could do on each day. For me it just helps so much having some sort of plan of our whole trip.

Music and Reading - Music is something that helps massively with my anxiety anyway but especially when it comes to travelling. If I am feeling stressed or anxious on the day we're leaving I'll put my headphones in and when on the train I'll just zone out. I really enjoy having a few hours to just listen to music and not think about anything. I also find reading helps me a lot aswell. A good book is brilliant for a train or plane journey, it's cheesy but you can just get lost in someone elses life.

Home Comforts - I think its always nice to take a little bit of home with you if you struggle with anxiety or being away from home. I always take fluffy bed socks and they always make me feel cosy before bed. I also like to take a little blanket type t-shirt I have or one of Georges t-shirts to snuggle with. Just little things like that make me feel a bit more content in a hotel and help me relax so much.

That's a few things I do each time I travel to try and help reduce my anxiety. Sometimes I'm fine and usually once I'm there I don't tend to be that bad but just the thought of going away and the actual travelling. can be a bit of a stressful thing for me! I'm sorry if these aren't brilliant tips, they are just what I find helpful but everyone is different. I'd love to know if you struggle with things like this and how you cope!

Monday, 26 June 2017

This is a little different to my usual reviews but one I am so excited to do. A few weeks ago I was given the chance to receive and review a Samuel Joseph Watch, and also to hold a giveaway for my lovely readers. I jumped at the chance, because I knew this watch would be absolutely perfect for my partner George and also because giveaways are such a nice way of giving back to my followers.

Samuel Joseph sell a range of beautiful watches all perfect for a special man in your life, whether that be your partner, dad, brother, grandad, friend, etc. They have a selection of watches that everyone will love. Samuel Joseph spend hours designing their watches ensuring they fit an array of styles, making sure they can be worn when you are suited and booted, but also look perfect with more casual wear.

'Timeless elegance with modern minimalism'.

The watch I was sent to review was the Bespoke 43mm Blue & Steele Watch - Navy Leather Strap, which is priced at £135. I knew this would be perfect for George as soon as I saw it online and when I showed it him, he said it would be perfect for work. I was so excited for it to arrive, and when it did I was taken aback by how perfect it was. I mean, look at it!

The first thing I noticed obviously was its packaging which I was so impressed with. It came in a luxury padded presentation box, meaning it was perfectly safe and also looked very high end. My first thought was that it would be such a perfect gift for someone, it's already packaged well and just looks very luxurious.

Just looking at the watch in the box I could tell it was going to be good quality. I genuinely couldn't stop looking at it and couldn't believe this was something I had been sent to review.

I love the striking blue dial of the watch, I wasn't sure what this would be like in real life but it's such a gorgeous bright blue and so different and unique to other watches George already has and ones he has bought before. He said it's not a colour he would usually go for when choosing a watch but he absolutely loves it and agrees it goes so well with either casual wear or with more smart wear. It goes so well with the smokey navy blue leather strap which feels of extremely high quality. A watch I bought George a few years ago had quite a flimsy strap and over time it sort of broke down and snapped whereas with this I can already tell we're not going to have that problem or certainly not for a very long time. This along with the rest of the Samuel Joseph watches are backed by their 2 year manufactures guarantee and they are specifically tested for longevity and quality. They all also have a 60 day money back guarantee so if you did have any problems, no need to worry about that, they would be more than happy to help.

If you want to know the measurements of the watch I received, the diameter is 43.5mm, the thickness if 13mm and the weight is 85g.

I've just been so impressed with Samuel Joseph Watches and they have exceeded all my expectations! It looks and feels of such good quality and would really make such a lovely gift. I'm definitely going to be considering them in the future for christmas and birthdays! They have a range of other watches available on their website here if you want to see, and you can also find them on Amazon where this watch is currently on offer for £85.

So now onto the giveaway! I know a lot of my readers are women and at first I wasn't sure if people might be interested in a giveaway of this but I genuinely love this watch and I'm so glad I've had the chance to pass it onto George. I just think for any women reading my blog and wondering whether to enter or not, please do as it would be such a lovely gift or surprise for a man in your life! and for any men reading, you don't want to miss out on this! It's usually £135 so if you want to get yourself one for free, details of the giveaway are below! Good Luck!Win A Samuel Joseph Bespoke Wrist Watch #2

*I was sent the watch to review and feature in a post along with a giveaway. As always all opinions are my own.

Friday, 23 June 2017

Earlier on this week I was tagged by the lovely Zoe to do the 50 Questions You've Never Been Asked Tag. I'm not sure if this is a new tag or not but I've only just started seeing it and it's one I've never been asked to do before so I'm excited about it. I personally love reading peoples answers to questions like this so I hope you like mine!

1. What's your favourite candle scent?There are so many that I love, this is so difficult. I love the Yankee Candle Summer Peach one but at the minute I'm obsessed with the Marks and Spencers Sweet Apple one. I don't think I can pick between the two.

2. What female celebrity do you wish was your sister?I really struggled with this but I'm thinking Louise Pentland (Sprinkle Of Glitter) she's down to earth, loves supermarkets and I just think she seems like a lovely person.3. What male celebrity do you wish was your brother?Ant and Dec because I just love them (Ant especially, he seems like the nicest man) or Jamie Oliver because he can cook.

4. How old do you think you'll be when you get married?

22 or 23 hopefully.

5. Do you know a hoarder?

I don't think so, though I could probably be called one. I have a lot of stuff.

6. Can you do the splits?

No and I don't think I've ever been able to!

7. How old were you when you first learned to ride a bike?

I can remember actually learning to ride a bike but I have no idea how old I was, I can't even guess.

8. How many oceans have you swam in?

I have no idea, maybe 1 or 2?

9. How many countries have you visited?

I'm thinking maybe 6 or 7 as I did go abroad quite a few times when I was younger.

10. Is anyone in your family in the army?

Not anymore but my dad was when I was a baby.

11. What would you name your daughter if you had one?

I really worry if I say people I know will use them before me but one of my favourites at the moment is Honey.

12. What would you name your son if you had one?

I genuinely want like 4 or 5 kids so I've got loads of names for both boys and girls but my favourite boys names are Harry and Oliver.

13. What's the worst grade you've got in a test?

I think probably a D, and that was probably in Maths or Science because I seriously struggled with those.

14. What was your favourite TV show as a kid?

There were so many! When I was like 10 or around that age I used to love Drake and Josh, and shows like that on Nickelodeon and Disney channel.

15. What did you dress up as for Halloween when you were 8?

I didn't do much for halloween when I was younger but it would have probably been a witch or something like that.

16. Have you read any of the Harry Potter, Hunger Games or Twilight series?

I've read the twilight series, I was obsessed with the books and films when I was about 14. As much as I love Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, I don't think I'd enjoy the books.

17. Would you rather have an American accent or a British one?

I think british.

18. Did your mother go to university?

I don't think so? Is it bad that I don't know.

19. Are your grandparents still married?

Yes

20. Have you ever taken karate lessons?

No

21. Do you know who Kermit the frog is?

Yes

22. What was the first amusement park you went to/

There was one called American Adventure I think that I went to when I was younger, that was probably the first one as I don't think I went to Alton Towers til I was much older.

23. What language beside your native language would you like to be fluent in?

German.

24. Do you spell the colour Grey or Gray?

Grey

25. Is your father bald?

No

26. Do you know any triplets?

No

27. Do you prefer Titanic or The Notebook?

The Notebook. I've never really got the Titanic hype to be honest.

28. Have you ever had Indian food?

Yes and it's one of my favourites!

29. What's the name of your favourite restaurant?

Frankie and Bennys is one I always go back to so probably that.

30. Have you ever been to Nandos?

Yes but not for a long time.

31. Do you belong to any warehouse stores? (Costco, Bookers ect)

No.

32. What would your parents have named you if you were the opposite gender?

I don't know, I'm sure they had a few options for girls names but I can't remember if I was ever told what I'd be called if I'd been a boy.

33. If you have a nickname what is it?

Tiff.

34. Who's your favourite person in the world?George but I doubt that comes as a surprise to anyone.

35. Would you rather live in the countryside or the city?

The city, but just on the outside if possible, so its easier to get into the city when I want too but not have to deal with it being super busy and loud near my home.

36. Can you whistle?

No I've never been able to.

37. Do you sleep with a nightlight?

No

38. Do you eat breakfast every morning?

I try to but more often than not, no.

There is no 39th question.

40. What medical conditions do you have?

Anxiety.

41. Have many times have you been to hospital?

Not many I don't think.

42. Have you ever seen Finding Nemo?

Yes

43. Where do you buy your jeans?

New Look or Asos

44. What's the last compliment you got?

I honestly don't know, probably something from George.

45. Do you usually remember your dreams in the morning?

Sometimes.

46. What flavour tea do you enjoy?

I love normal tea with a bit of sugar and milk, but I'm really into green tea and fruity ones now aswell.

47. How many pairs of shoes do you currently own?

I'm gonna say around 7 different pairs but I tend to wear the same few all the time

48. What religion will you raise your children to practice?

I'm not really religious so they will be free to make up their own mind

49. How old were you when you found out Santa wasn't real?

I'm not sure but I remember guessing quite early on he wasn't real

50. Why do you have a blog?

Because a few years ago I had no idea what to do with my time while I was looking for work and it just seemed like a fun thing to do for a while. I honestly didn't expect over 3 years on to still be writing and still be loving it. I'm so happy I started it.

So that's all the questions and I really enjoyed answering them all! It's not often I do tags but I love reading them so I think I might have to try and do more in the future. I have no idea how many people I'm supposed to tag for this so I'm just gonna say whoever hasn't done this tag and wants too, feel free to copy and paste the questions! Also let me know if you do it too so I can read your answers!Follow Me - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest & Bloglovin!

Thursday, 22 June 2017

I did a first impressions post on this when I first bought it but this was a few years ago now so I thought I better do a full review of it and as I've been using it and falling in love with it all over again recently I thought now was the perfect time.

The Garnier Micellar Water is essentially a makeup remover that takes very little time to use and requires very little effort so it's perfect for people like me who are sometimes quite lazy when it comes to removing makeup in the evening!

I've been repurchasing this for a few years now and I can't really ever see there being a time where I stop using it. When I find something that works with my skin I never want to replace it because my skin can be quite sensitive sometimes. Luckily I've never had any sort of reaction to this and my skin always feels really nice after using it. I mentioned in my first impressions post that its supposed to cleanse, remove makeup and soothe your skin in one simple step, and it does exactly that. I never struggle with this when it comes to removing tricky things like mascara and it never takes more than a few cotton pads to remove all of my makeup. It just works. Aswell as doing the job with removing makeup it also makes my skin feel really refreshed. I just feel super clean after using this and I always feel a bit like I've done something good for my skin when I've used this! A good tip aswell for if you sometimes wake up feeling a bit rubbish or just knackered and unable to function (me most mornings) add some of this to a cotton pad and wipe all over your face. It just instantly wakes me up and makes me feel much better!

I've said a few times on my blog now that I'm not one of those people to have a proper skincare routine so this product is perfect for me. I can remove my makeup within a few minutes, use my Newtons Labs face wash and then I'm done. I just love it. I usually just buy the mini bottles for around £1-£2 but the bigger bottle is really good value for money at £4.99 as it lasts so long. I just find the mini bottles are perfect for travelling too so I always try to have one in the bathroom cabinet ready.

This is definitely one of my all time favourite skincare products. Garnier do some fab skincare bits and I've seen they've brought out some similar things to this recently aswell as a Micellar Cleansing Wash for £3.99 so I definitely need to try that soon!

I'd love to know what your favourite skincare brand is and if you're a fan of the micellar water too!

Wednesday, 21 June 2017

I listen to a lot of different music, you will find just about anything on my iPod or Spotify but one big chunk of that would be musicals. I just love musical soundtracks, and my love for them is growing all the time! Even more so now I've actually seen a show on the west end so I really wanted to do a post on a few of my favourites.

Wicked - Of all of the musicals, this had to be top. Not only do I love the original broadway soundtrack but I've also been able to hear all of the songs live two times, both by the amazing Rachel Tucker and Suzie Mathers. I go through phases with each song where one will just be my favourite for ages, but really the top 3 for me are The Wizard and I, Defying Gravity and No Good Deed. I think all of those songs are so powerful and ones I could just replay over and over. If you ever get the chance to see the show, do it! Hearing the songs and seeing them being performed is just amazing, it's such a magical show and I'm pretty sure this soundtrack will never stop getting played in my house.

Dear Evan Hansen - This is one I only discovered a few weeks ago, but I don't think there has even been a song to relate to me so much, as 'Waving Through A Window' on this soundtrack. I know I won't be able to describe the show properly so this is what it says on the website 'A letter that was never meant to be seen, a lie that was never meant to be told, a life he never dreamed he could have. Evan Hansen is about to get the one thing he's always wanted: a chance to fit in'. Evan suffers with severe social anxiety and I think thats what gets me so much about the whole soundtrack. I just feel like I can relate to so many of the lyrics and it makes me really emotional. It's only on Broadway at the moment and I would genuinely get on a plane to go and see it if I could afford it. It's just amazing, and I genuinely think if you know anyone who suffers with social anxiety maybe give 'Waving Through A Window' a listen, it could maybe give you an insight into what its like sometimes for those with it. Also 'You Will Be Found' is a pretty emotional one too and definitely one of my favourites on the soundtrack.

Waitress - I only started listening to the soundtrack to this recently but I am obsessed! Unfortunately it's not on the west end, only broadway but so many of the songs are incredible and from what I've read online, it's an amazing show so I really hope I get chance to see it one day. It's about a waitress and pie maker, Jenna who has dreams of leaving her small town and loveless marriage. A baking contest in a nearby county and her towns new dr can offer her that fresh start she's been waiting for but she has to summon the strength and courage to completely rebuild her life. As soon as I heard the first song on the soundtrack Whats Inside, I was hooked. Now I can just replay it over and over. I think my favourites are Opening Up, The Negative and When He Sees Me. This is a soundtrack you have to listen to. It's unlikely I'll see this anytime soon as there is no more news about it coming to the west end but if anyone does get the chance to see it on broadway, it's currently starring Sara Bareilles, who actually wrote all of the music for the show.

Les Miserables - Once my slight addiction to the wicked soundtrack had died down I started listening to the Les Mis one and I'm now pretty set on this being the next west end show I see. I still haven't seen the film but some of the songs are just so powerful, that alone has sold it to me. Again as I'm not great at describing things it says online 'Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Ex-convict Jean Valjean is hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever.' I've only ever read good things about it and it's a show that has been recommended to me a few times now. I think my favourite from the soundtrack is One Day More.

Rent - This isn't a musical I know too much about but it says online 'In this musical, set at the dawn of the 1990s, a group of New Yorkers struggle with their careers, love lives and the effects of the AIDS epidemic on their community'. I really need to watch the film soon but I would really love to see it on stage too one day. For now I just love the soundtrack! There is one song 'Seasons Of Love' which is pretty iconic and one that I really love, definitely my favourite but I also really like 'Take Me or Leave Me'. It's one I've just started listening to properly but definitely one I'm really enjoying at the moment.

I'd love to know if you like any of these soundtracks and if so which is your favourite? Also can you recommend any others I should listen to? I'm just obsessed with musicals at the moment! I think my favourite will always be Wicked but the rest are all pretty amazing.

Tuesday, 20 June 2017

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has a few favourite nail polishes that no matter what, they always go back to! This Barry M nail polish in the shade Plum, is one of those for me. I've got a bag full of nail polishes ranging from Essie, to Barry M to Rimmel, and a few other brands and I'm always buying more but I always go back to a select few. I just know what I like and what suits me, and this is one of them.

I'm sure I've mentioned this specific nail polish before but it's so good it deserved its own blog post.

It's one I wear all year round, because even though it is a dark purple and perfect for the winter months, I don't think it's one that you can really go wrong with in the summer either. I do tend to go for lighter colours in the summer, pinks and nudes, I don't know why I just do but this one is a bit of an exception. A perfect one for all year round.

It always looks so good on, just a super sleek colour and actually a bit of a classic for me I think as I've worn it so many times! It looks good with any outfit, not that I tend to put much thought into matching my nails to my outfits but if you are someone who does do that, this is one that goes with just about anything. It applies so well, it never goes streaky like some other nail polishes I have do, and just one coat looks lovely on. I always tend to do 2 coats now with any nail polish, but no matter what I find with this I get really minimal chipping and I don't usually use a top coat either.

I just love everything about it. It's a gorgeous colour, I have no problems applying it and it's got brilliant lasting power. Whats not to love? Barry M are just brilliant for nails and this is definitely one of my favourites!

Monday, 19 June 2017

So I thought I had written this post ages ago but it turns out I hadn't so this is a bit of a last minute one! Anyway, I really wanted to do a little recipe for an amazing Calzone that I made a few months ago. The pictures I got aren't amazing, I'm not sure how you can make a one of these look pretty, but its all about the taste anyway! Before I get on with the recipe if you've never tried a calzone before and don't know what they are, the only way I can describe them is they are basically folded pizzas. And who doesn't love pizza.

Ingredients:

Pizza Dough (I used Asdas Easy Share Pizza Base but I think most supermarkets do similar or you could attempt your own)

1 - 2 tbsp of tomato puree

around 20g of grated cheese

any pizza toppings you want, I used ham, chicken and pepperoni

sliced mozzarella (I just got Asda smartprice mozzarella for about 45p which was perfect for 2 of us)

Method:

1. As I used prepared pizza dough I had to leave out the fridge for around 10 minutes so while that was on the side, I grated some cheese, around 20g of each, sliced mozzarella and got out any toppings I wanted to use

2. I then rolled out the dough and topped with tomato puree. I ended up using about 2 tbsp and just coated half of the dough

3. Now would be the time to add any toppings. You could use just about anything, whatever you normally like on top of pizzas! I used ham, pepperoni and chicken. I then sprinkled on grated cheese and added some sliced mozzarella. I'm not sure exactly how much mozzarella I used but it's personal preference really. I like these super cheesy but of course you can add as much or as little as you like

4. When it comes to folding it over I literally just folded the other half of the dough that has no toppings on top and then sort of twisted the edges to properly close it, if that makes sense. Again it doesn't look pretty but it's a bit of a tricky thing to do!

5. Carefully put onto a baking tray and bake in a 200 degree oven for around 15 minutes. It's one of those things you just need to keep an eye on as you don't want the dough to burn

6. After 15 minutes take out the oven and serve, you could have it with something else but these are super filling so are a perfect weekend evening meal by itself

I've made these a few times and they are such a delicious treat! Definitely a bit indulgent but who doesn't love pizza and cheese? They do take a bit of effort and time but it's so worth it. I can't wait to make one again.

If you decide to give homemade calzones a go let me know so I can see yours!

Friday, 16 June 2017

So it's been a while since I last properly spoke about getting married and this post isn't going to be an update or anything, we're wanting to keep it very private until afterwards but I did want to share a little wishlist. As time goes on I'm getting increasingly aware of what I actually need to buy and I'm worried it's going to get to the week before and I'll have forgot loads! I'm going to keep my outfit quite simple, and even though I'm not fully decided on one yet I do know I need a few accessories and I also definitely need to get a bag and some shoes, aswell as a few beauty bits! I thought it might be nice to do a little post with just a few bits I've seen recently that I really want to try and get for the wedding as like I said it's been a while since I've posted anything about it.

The first thing I wanted to include was shoes, because I just have no idea what to go for! I'm really not that good in walking in heels, I genuinely think the last time I wore them was my prom, or not long after, which was a good few years ago now! so I'm thinking I'll go for some nice flats, again it all depends on the outfit though. If I go for a dress I'm probably wanna go for heels but if I go for a more casual outfit, I think some pretty flats would be lovely. I just dont know, here are a few I'm liking at the moment though regardless! I know a lot of the heels look the same but I promise they are different.

I think any of the flats would look lovely with some nice new skinny jeans and some sort of white lacey top and I think the heels would all go well with a dress if I decided to go for that. I honestly have no idea what to go for. We're keeping it really casual, it isn't in a church or anything like that so I want to be comfortable. I'm gonna have do some serious thinking! The best thing about all of these aswell is regardless of what I go for I can wear them afterwards too!

Now onto beauty. I know I definitely want to repurchase my Essie Eternal Optimist nail polish. It's such a perfect nude colour and I've said right from the beginning that was going to be the one I wore on my wedding day. I'm getting to the end of the bottle I have now, thats how much I love it so I need to get another one of these. I also really want to get another of the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer. I don't want to wake up on my wedding day with new spots but knowing my luck I will, so I really need this as it's the best concealer I've ever used. I also really want to get some sort of setting spray. I've never used them before but they are supposed to be brilliant for keeping your makeup in place. I've seen a good one by Rimmel but if anyone has any recommendations please let me know!

I love the look of both the Starskin products, neither I've ever tried but I think both look really good. I want to have nice, fresh and soft hands so I think the nourishing hand masks are interesting! Also the plumping and hydrating lip masks are intriguing and as there are two I could try one a few weeks before and see if they make any sort of difference.

There are only a few accessories I need to get, the main one being a bag! I don't want to take much but I'm going to need something so I'm thinking a little plain clutch bag would be nice. Again the style I go for might change depending on the outfit but for now I'm liking these two simple ones from Asos. Also I have no idea what I'll be doing with my hair but I love these two headpieces. I just think they would look lovely and it's a little bit of sparkle but not too out there. Lastly I love this gold necklace. I don't wear much jewellery and I do already have a few necklaces I could wear but this is so pretty.

I feel like I've probably repeated myself a lot in this post but I'm conscious of not giving too much away and also there are a lot of things I'm still pretty undecided on! I just thought it would be nice to do a wedding post like this, and there are some really lovely bits available at the moment.

Do you like anything on this wishlist? or have you tried any of the beauty bits?

Thursday, 15 June 2017

I have suffered with bad skin for years now. I was definitely one of those teenagers who was constantly breaking out and having to try and cover everything with makeup each day before school because I was so self conscious! and even though my skin has definitely improved, it's not perfect and I get more spots and breakouts than I'd like to admit, because for a 22 year old, it's probably not great! So when the opportunity came up to work with Newtons Labs and try out a few of their best selling skincare products, I had to go for it!

Newtons Labs T-Zone Skincare is a brand that is dedicated to fighting spots and blemishes with only natural and active ingredients. They use ingredients which are proven to sooth and reduce spots instantly, the main ones being Tea Tree, Salicylic Acid and Witch Hazel. They sell a range of products from cleansers to moisturisers to facial scrubs to pore strips aswell as a few other things, something for everyone who is suffering with their skin! I received four of their best selling products and I was so excited to get using them all, actually have some sort of routine and see if any of them made a difference.

Facial Wash - The first thing I tried out of the range and what I've been using religiously twice a day since is the Clear Pore Facial Wash. This has been formulated to remove grease and any oil that can cause spots, it prevents the build up of dead skin cells and is supposed to leave your skin looking and feeling great. I have been using this after washing my face when I get up in the morning, and then at night once I've removed any makeup. It lathers up with warm water so well and I really feel like this is properly cleansing my face and removing any nasty bacteria whenever I use it, I can tell that it is actually doing something and my face just feels so clean and fresh after. I've actually really enjoyed using this and it's been nice to get into a routine with cleansing my skin each day, and I've definitely noticed a difference. I feel like I just look a bit more awake after using it and it's definitely helped prevent spots as my skin is looking a lot more clear than usual.

Charcoal Nose Pore Strips - I have always wanted to use something like this but I've never bought them so I was so happy to see these included for me to try! The Charcoal Nose Strips are for unclogging pores and removing any excess oil aswell as preventing spots and keeping skin clear. There are 6 in this pack which I think is a pretty good amount as these aren't something that need using all the time. I used one a few weeks ago for the first time, it fitted perfectly over the bridge of my nose and even though it felt a bit strange when it was on, when I removed it my skin on and around my nose just felt so soft. I could tell it had done what it was supposed to do, my skin just looked a bit clearer around that area and for a long time it felt so smooth and clean. I will definitely be using more of these in future.

Spot Zapping Gel - I had a feeling out of everything this spot zapping gel was going to be my favourite because I used so many of these growing up and I'd always found that they actually did help in getting rid of spots. This spot zapping gel rapidly targets, prevents and calms any spots and blemishes. It is a cooling and quick drying gel which can target spots in just 4 hours. I think these gels are perfect as they can be used at any time and you know they will start to work within just a few hours. You could keep it in your handbag or take it to work with you and I'm sure I used to take one to school with me sometimes when I was younger! I found this really did work and I really enjoyed using it. After cleansing I would put a little bit of this on any spots I had and really within hours the redness and size of them had reduced. I just loved this, and will definitely go out and buy when I've ran out!

Charcoal Black Cleansing Wipes - Out of everything these were the thing I was a little bit sceptical about as I had never used anything like them. These face wipes with activated charcoal are supposed to effectively cleanse your skin, remove any makeup and absorb any dirt and oil. I love using face wipes as they are just such a quick way of removing makeup and are perfect for people like me who sometimes realise before bed they've not took their makeup off yet and can't be bothered to do a full routine. I found these removed my makeup really well, just like any other face wipes and my skin genuinely felt really fresh and clean afterwards. With all of these products I really felt after using them they had worked and done something to my skin. I think the wipes combined with everything else over the last few weeks really has helped get rid of any bacteria left from makeup and has improved my how my skin looks and feels.

I'm just so happy with everything that I tried from Newtons Labs. I was really hoping all of these would work and start to improve my skin and they have. Just before I started using these my skin wasn't great and I had quite a few spots but with cleansing every day and applying the spot gel, it has really improved and I generally feel so much better about how it looks. I can't wait to use the pore strips again, it was actually quite a fun thing to do! and the charcoal wipes are going to be brilliant for me to pack next time we go away! Not much has worked for my skin over the last few years but I genuinely think Newtons Labs has and I can't wait to keep using everything and hopefully it will only continue to improve how my skin looks and feels.

If you want to know any more about Newtons Labs or see the full range of products, check out their website here. I can't wait to pick up some of their other products in future, they are sold in a range of places including B&M, Poundworld and Home Bargains, and a full list can be found on their website.

Wednesday, 14 June 2017

I picked a few candles up when we were last in London and I knew as soon as I bought them that I was going to do a blog post on them. Who knew M&S did some of the best candles ever? Almost as good if not better than Yankee Candle?

As soon as I walked into the M&S on Oxford Street, I went straight for the candles and they had a huge amount to choose from. I was stood just looking at them and smelling them for like a good half an hour! In the end I went for a large Sweet Apple one and a small Vanilla Bean one.

This range seemed to be a bit cheaper than the others they had but if anything, I think these were even better than the others they had. The scents were so strong and I couldn't really leave without getting anything.

Sweet Apple was the first one I saw and they had large jars, small jars, reed diffusers and wax melts. I was originally only going to get a wax melt of this just because I didn't think I had any room for more big candles and really why not just add to my already huge pile of wax melts, for only £1.50. In the end George convinced me to get the large jar and to treat myself, it was £7.50 which I think is absolutely brilliant for a candle this good in this size. A Yankee Candle that big, you're looking at around £20 which I'm just not going to pay. I actually couldn't believe how good value for money this was. It smells incredible so I'm so happy I decided to get it. As I'm no good at describing scents, it says on the M&S website 'delicious scent of a sweet and juicy green apple, blended with pear blossom and soft peach'. It's just lovely, so refreshing and sweet. I already don't want this to run out. I'm glad I did get a large jar of this as one we had in the living room was just about finished so this has been the perfect replacement for it. It goes well with the room and when lit, only smells even more incredible.

Even though I had already got a large jar candle, I couldn't leave without something in the Vanilla Bean Scent. I love this one because it's a bit different from your usual vanilla scent, which I think can be a bit boring sometimes. To me this just smells like baked goods. Like a fresh cake or something. Probably sounds a bit strange but thats all I could think of when I first had a smell of this. It says on the website 'A warm fragrance full of vanilla orchid, sweet caramel and sparkling ylang ylang'. I just got this in the small jar which was £3 but I'm sure I'll get one of the large jars in this scent in future. I think these are such a good size, and would actually make a lovely present.

I just want to talk about these all day. I'm so impressed with both of these and I will definitely be going back to Marks and Spencers in future to purchase more. They did have a few other scents in this range including Tea Rose and Egyptian Cotton which I'd love to try at some point. As much as I love Yankee Candle, and definitely have my favourites of theirs which I'm sure I'll buy again, for the price of these, I can't imagine myself going back to Yankee for a while.

Have you tried any candles from this range? Do you think you'd like either of these?